Chapter 51: Intruder
Hawks steps outside into the courtyard as evening approaches. His embarrassing incident with the X-Van resulted in an excuse to snuggle with Jean the rest of the day, making it an overall win. He breathes in the fresh air, bummed the day is coming to an end and he would have to leave soon to return to Japan, where he knows there will be hell to pay for this day from heaven. Hawks sighs, looking into the distance, when something— someone— snooping around the mansion catches his eye. The slender young woman with long brown hair and caramel-toned skin slinks though the courtyard.
"Hey!" Hawks shoots towards the tree line after the young woman as vanishes from sight. She's fast. Really fast. And definitely does not want me following her. Hawks' feathers can sense she's heading towards the mansion, so he darts after her.
Hawks flies through the main entrance door, where Hank is casually sprawled on a couch reading Shakespeare.
"Hank, where did she go?!"
"Who, what?" Hank jerks to attention.
"That girl, who is she and why is she lurking-
"We don't have a new recruit, haven't gotten one in months."
*CRASH.*
*WOOSH*
Fierce wings find them. Hawks shoots towards the sound of books falling from the library. As Hawks' feathers scatter, he finds others — Professor, Storm, Jean, Kitty, Scott and a handful of the younger teens, are all lying on the floor, knocked out by the unwelcome visitor.
Hawks shoots into the library, where Rouge is unconscious and the young woman faces him. Shocked she allowed herself to get cornered, Hawks is caught off guard with her forward-thinking as she propels a canister at him. "Shit!"
Hawks ducks to dodge the canister. Realizing it is full of knockout gas, he runs to escape the room, covering his mouth, when a foot slams into his chest, kicking him backwards.
"Game's over. What are you after, kid?" Logan asks, stepping into the room.
The woman barely skips a beat, despite her surprise at Logan's entrance.
"Silver Claws, watch out!"
Logan dodges the first few strikes from the woman. She then lands a hit, sending Logan backwards towards Hawks who was just making his way to his feet.
As feathers fire at her, the young lady dodges the feathers or strikes them, cutting a few in half. She lunges at Logan and Hawks.
With another heavy kick from the young woman, Logan collides with Hawks' stomach, sending them both crashing through the glass window.
Before they hit the ground, Hawks breaks their fall. As he floats Logan to a soft landing, Hawks springs to his feet as flicks of his blood sprinkle the grass below him.
The woman jumps out of the broken window after them.
"Who is she?" Hawks asks Logan.
"It's complicated." Logan replies, right as the woman lunges to attack them again, seemingly running on pure emotions.
Hawks flies back to dodge her, sharpening his feathers.
Logan and Hawks prepare to begin their attack. Logan raises a claw at the woman as more feathers fire from Hawks' wings forcing her backwards. The young lady pulls out her claws.
"Hawks, retract your feathers." Logan shouts.
"Come on, kid, talk to me!" Logan shouts to the woman as he and Hawks retract their offensive.
"I know what happened to you. No one should have to go through that, especially a child." Logan continues.
"I'm not a child!" the woman screams, again lunging towards Logan.
Logan grabs her hands, "Yes, you are. Even though they tried takin' that away from you.
Agh!" She she yelps as she kicks backwards.
"Why come after us?" Logan asks, picking himself off the ground.
"Not them, just you! This is your fault!" Her attacks are progressively getting slower now. "Everything I am is because of you! You did this to me!"
"You're mixed up. I didn't know anything about this."
"Liar!" She strikes, cutting his chest and shirt but not drawing blood, as Logan blocks the next attack with his claws against hers, catching her.
"I'm a victim, just like you. I'm the one person on this planet who understands you."
She begins sobbing, dropping to her knees and unable to keep fighting. Hawks perches on an angel statue, watching as Logan soothes her, mentioning something about family and more.
"No! I-I can't have family. I can't.." She sobs as Logan hugs her. Hawks' eyes soften understandingly, identifying with the turmoil she is expressing.
"Your feelings — you can't fight them anymore." Logan says as Hawks notices something coming in the distance and jumps down.
"Guys, we have visitors." Hawks breaks the moment, pointing to the helicopters overhead. The girls' eyes widen in fear as lights from the helicopter illuminates the area.
"Go! We'll take care them. Now!" Logan orders her. The girl takes off running. When the helicopters land, a man with an eyepatch and dark skin walks out. Hawks look for the name on the helicopter closest to them.
S.H.E.I.D
"Where is the girl, Logan?" Nick Fury demands.
"Forget about her. She's been through enough." Logan says protectively.
"I can't just let this go!"
"Yes, you can and you will!"
"She's not here. Best you leave."
Hawks says stepping forward.
"What a surprise! Japan's number 2 hero. Far from home, aren't you?" Nick ask.
"The difference between you and me is that I'm welcome here. And, of course, my tremendously good looks and incredible quirk that leaves things like helicopter superfluous."
Nick Fury huffs.
"Let's go, Feathers." Logan pats Hawks' shoulder as they head back towards the mansion.
"Old friend?" Hawks ask, "you were chummy."
"You could say that. Let's go check in with the others and get you home. I mean, you are going home?"
"I am. And that girl?"
"Leave her to me, Feathers. I'm sure we'll meet her again soon."